Ringleader of trucking company scam pleads guilty

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6/23/2005

A former employee of
a Leominster, MA, trucking company has pleaded guilty to stealing more than
half a million dollars from her former employer.

Court officials said
Joan Pierce, 41, of Fitchburg, MA, used her position with Carrier Nationwide
Inc. – she was a clerk responsible for wiring money to truckers at truck stops
– to pad her own bank accounts.

According to The
Associated Press, the scheme lasted from November 2001 to September 2004,
during which time $657,731 was stolen from the company. Pierce allegedly issued
788 fraudulent checks, which her friends would then cash and return to her, the Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise reported.

Investigators said
in court that they believe Pierce was the “ringleader” of the of the scam.

“She was put in the
position of trust by the small Leominster company,” said Assistant Attorney
General Tina Skerritt. “She totally took advantage of that company.”

Pierce pleaded
guilty to 12 counts of larceny over $250, 11 counts of falsifying/omitting
entries in corporate books and one count of conspiracy, the Sentinel and
Enterprise said.